Customer Reviews

Secret and Sacred: The Diaries of James Henry Hammond, a Southern Slaveholder

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Secret and Sacred gives an eye-opening glimpse into mid-nineteenth century South Carolina power and politics. And who better to lead the bizarre journey than wealthy planter-class James Henry Hammond? The one-time US Senator and SC Governor lets us look into his skewed view of morality, slavery, nullification and the all important states rights issues which plunged this country into its darkest hours of Civil War.
Hammond's thought process is driven by greed, revenge and an exceedingly over-developed sex drive. After having been caught in an ongoing sexual triste with famous Gen. Wade Hampton's 3 under aged daughters, he incredulously manages to justify his actions and demonize the young girls! His own wife leaves Hammond after he refuses to give up his slave mistress. He eventually dumps his slave mistress to take up with her 12 year-old daughter as his new mistress!
Complaining incessantly in the pages of his diary, he sees his own death and demise as often as the sun rises. It is quite amazing that this diary had not been seriously edited down by subsequent generations of Hammonds in an effort to restore some inkling of reputation. It is what it is, an incredibly candid and private look inside the life and logic of a southern statesman. At times, Hammond loses me in all of his explanations on his nullification stance, but just as quickly, lures me back in by his next rant or rave. Today, he could not hide behind his class and would be vilified in spite of his power and money. In today's world, this type of personality and resulting actions go hand in hand with serious drug abuse. With a son who died as a "morphine eater" and a daughter who also consumed morphine, I'm left wondering if much of what is written and thought by an obviously brilliant mind wasn't driven by a life-long addiction. The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
This is a great read for anyone, period. Hollywood has yet to discover the sordid world of James Henry Hammond, for if they did, it would make for a spellbinding cinematic treat.

Reading someone's diary is always a bit troubling. Did the writer intend for it to be read and shift his view accordingly? Reading James Henry Hammond's dairy one is left wondering. One of the brightest men of the Old South, Hammond was a leading planter, intellectual and political leader. He is not representative of the Old South by any means and was certainly not born to the aristocracy. Hammond always seemed to be on stage of some sort, if even in his own mind. The diary of James Henry Hammond was his solace during his political exile and it gave him company that few others (certainly not his wife and children) could provide. Besides keeping up with the political gossip, Hammond also records the rather lurid details of his private life: sexual advances on his 4 young nieces as well as relationships with his slaves. This is an insightful and fascinating diary though it lacks the charm of Mary Chestnut's accounts, the humor of William Byrd's or even the throughness of Edmund Ruffin's various journals. Hammond's diary offers us a look into an intelligent and able man whose complete lack of self control and his ambitions turned him into an immoral monster.

THIS WONDERFUL BOOK GIVES THE READER A GOOD LOOK AT THE WORKINGS OF THE ANTEBELLUM SOUTH AND ITS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIFE. AS GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA WE SEE HAMMOND ADVISING HIS MASSACHUESETTS FRIEND IN CHARLSESTON FOR FACT FINDING TO LEAVE THE STATE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. THE GOV. IS UNABLE TO PROTECT HIS LIFE IF HE REMAINS. HAMMOND COMPLAINS THAT HIS WIFE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH A SLAVE IN THE HOUSEHOLD AND HIS SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH HER TWELVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. WE SEE THE SELF-JUSTIFICATION OF THIS MORAL, CHRISTIAN MAN WHO SUPPORTS ENSLAVEMENT OF THE INFERIOR RACE.